Brown’s ethics aide Erin Peth to become executive director of FPPC

SACRAMENTO -- A top advisor to Gov. Jerry Brown was appointed Friday as executive director of the state’s campaign watchdog agency.

The state Fair Political Practices Commission voted in closed session to name Erin V. Peth as the commission’s top executive officer.

Peth’s appointment after a nationwide search increases Brown’s reach at an agency that enforces campaign finance and conflict-of-interest laws against elected and appointed officials. He also appointed two of the five members of the commission, and its general counsel worked for Brown when he was state attorney general.

Peth, 36, will step down from her post as deputy legal affairs secretary in the governor’s office, which she has held since 2011. Before that, she served as deputy attorney general while Brown was the attorney general.

“The commission has appointed an outstanding person to the position of executive director,” said commission Chairwoman Ann Ravel in a statement. “Her years of experience with the Political Reform Act and with state government will serve the FPPC well.”

As deputy attorney general, Peth advised constitutional officers and high-level state officials on compliance with the Political Reform Act’s provisions and other conflict-of-interest laws. In her job with the governor, she counsels public officials on governmental ethics, conflicts of interest, and governmental transparency.

Peth’s appointment comes almost two years after the last permanent executive director, Roman Porter, stepped down, leading to a series of temporary appointments in the interim.

It also comes at a time of potential change for the panel. In June, President Obama nominated Ravel to the Federal Election Commission.

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